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I still don't understand why you were willing to relinquish ... What's going to happen to Random House when you leave?

We didn't relinquish anything. One of the specifications in the contract spelled out clearly that we have absolute control of our business. RCA has no right at all to interfere with what we publish.

Once or twice a couple of directors have grumbled about one or two books that we've done. We paid absolutely no attention. At one of the last meetings, one of the directors, a general--I don't even remember his name, but he's a terribly pompous old bore--grumbled about the fact that we're doing a book by Gen. Gavin. He, being an old general, thinks that Gavin is not being true to his caste. He came over and he said, “I read in the paper that you're going to do Gen. Gavin's book.” I said, “Yes, we are.” He said, “I don't think that you ought to publish that book.” I said, “Well, I do think so.” I walked away from him. That was that...

But you're a strong person. What's going to happen when they don't have maybe a strong person to talk back to RCA?

We have other very strong people. Just before we sold to RCA, I decided that it was time that we put Bob Bernstein into the presidency. I believe that you pick your succession when you're still around being active. Many businesses go to pot because the owners seem to think they're going to go on